Improvement in wiping-rod bayonets



E. L. ZALINS KI. Wiping-RodBayonet.

Pafcented Sept. 9,1879.

NJEIEHS, PHOTO LIT HER, WASHINGTON, D. C,

vices have been made endeavoring to secure the utilization of a ramrod as a substitute for the ordinary bayonet; but in none has this properly held as such. This part may be of BET AVFELA'BLE COPY [TNITED EDMUND L. ZALIN SKI, .OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

IMPROVEMENT IN Wl PlNG-ROD BAYONETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219.424, dated September 9, 1879; application filed March 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDMUND L. ZALINSKI, of the United States Army, have devised and invented an Improved Wiping Rod, which may, when necessary, be used as a bayonet, simply by partly drawing it out of the pipe or position inwhich it is habitually to be carried, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a modification of the wipingrod usually attached to military firearms, and to an attachment to the barrel or stock, so that by a slight change of form of a portion of the rod, entailing thereby but a small addition to the total weight, it may, when required, serve-as a bayonet.

Heretofore the bayonet has usually been a separate portion of the soldiers equipment, and it necessitated carrying also a scabbard to contain the same when not temporarily fiXed upon barrel of the rifle. At' various times debeen accomplished with so little addition in weight, and which can be used as a bayonet so simply and rapidly, as the device I now describe.

In some devices the rod must be entirely withdrawn, reversed, and then reinserted, in order that it may be used as a bayonet. Furthermore, they involve a complete change in the form which is considered best for the purposes of a wiping-rod, the changes involving greater weight than by the device herein described.

My rod is to be carried with the part usually known as the rammer-head downward. It is commonly carried in the reverse manner.

Figure l is a side elevation of the barrel of a rifle, near the muzzle, showing the wipingrod drawn out so as to serve as a bayonet. This shows that portion of the wiping-rod which is altered in shape in order to serve the purpose of a bayonet, and to enable its being any shape in section (except so much as indicated in Fig. 2) within the limits of the caliber of the rifle with which it is to be used. The length may be such as the experience of service may indicate as necessary. Sections of a form now considered desirable are shown on the lines gh and e f. All edges should be rounded, to prevent injury to the ritling when used as a wiping-rod.

A slot, t'j, large enough to admit the blade of the service screw-driver, is out through near the point, to facilitate Withdrawal from the barrel when used as a wiping-rod. A 1011- gitudinal section of point on t j shows this slot more clearly. A is a stud, attached by brazing or otherwise, at or near the muzzle, under-.

neath the barrel. E is a slot in the side of A. The details of A will be best understood by reference to Figs: 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section from c to d of Fig. 1. A eannelure or groove, m m, is cut around the rod, into which the latch B of Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5 is forced by the spring 0 of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 3 is a section of the bayonet-stud A, Fig. 1, 011 6t 1), and shows the latch 13 thrown forward by the spring 0, so as to engage in the cannelure or groove m m, Fig. 2, when the rod is projected to serve as a bayonet, thusholding' itin position firmly. It also serves, bypressing against the rod, near the point, to hold it in the pipewhen not in use. 0 is a circular or other suitably-shaped opening in the stud A, which servesas a guide for the rod. With this the rod is firmly held, when projected, by the latch B. At vD aclosed recess is formed, which incloses the pivot extremity of the latch B, thus preventing ingress of sand,-&c., into the workin g parts. The latch B has also a lip, n for the same purpose.

Fig. 4 shows the same section as Fig. 3, with the latch B pressed back in the position it would assume while the rod is being drawn out,

leaving the guide-opening 0 otherwise clear.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the bayonet-stud A with wiping-rod in the position ordinarily carried.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the stud A on the other side from that shown in Fig. 1. This shows the closed recess D.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the gun with the wiping-rod disposed in the stock for carrying. The parts covered by the wood of the stock are indicated by the dotted lines. It will be .pcrceived that the part usually called the rammer head is down. In Fig. 7 some of" the parts are distorted in order to clearly show the ordinary carrying position of the rod.

To summarize: To use as a bayonet, the rod is simply drawn out until the cannelure or groove on m (shown in section in Fig.2) is 0pposite the latch B, when the spring 0 forces B i into it. The latch B, moving in the slot E, Fig 1, cannot move up or down, and the rod is thus held firmly. To withdraw the rod entirely, or to return it to its customary carrying position in the stock, the latch B is pressed back until the cannelure or groove is cleared, when the rod can be moved in either direction.

The spring 0, pressing against B, may be either spiral or straight. In the latter case it' may be directly combined with B, forming one and the 'same piece.

I claiml. A wipii'ig-rod bayonet, the wiping-rod being of usual construction at one end for a portion of its length, and the bayonet end being larger in cross-section, substantially as shown.

2. The combination, with the bayonet stud and catch, located near the muzzle of a smallarm, of a wiping-rod bayonet constructed as I described, so as to be adapted to slide through the bayonet-stud when the catch is released, but to be retained in certain positions by the catch, as set forth.

3. A wiping-rod bayonet having a perforation through the bayonet end, near the point, and a rammer-head or its equivalent at the other end, substantially as shown;

4. The combination of the guide 0 and stud A, leverB, and spring 0, forming a catch, with a suitable cannelure or groove, m m, on that part of the wiping-rod to be used as a bayonet, for the purpose of holding said rod as a bayonet and serving as a guard to the sharp point of the same in its carrying position, essentially as described.

5. The combination and arrangement of the bayonet-stud, catch, and wiping-rod bayonet, by which the latter can be projected and held as a bayonet simply by releasing the catch momentarily, and only partially withdrawing the rod from its ordinary carrying position.

E, L. ZALINSKI.

Witnesses ARTHUR MUNoY, HENRY L. HARRIS. 

